Polymers kill biofilm-forming bacteria

doi:10.1038/nindia.2016.6 Published online 19 January 2016

Researchers have found that
maleic-anhydride-based polymers can stifle the growth of several disease-causing
bacteria, including one that forms biofilms on medical devices1.
These polymers could potentially be used as biomaterials to sterilize the
surfaces of biomedical devices and treat burn wound infections.

Bacteria such as Acinetobacter baumannii colonize and
form biofilms on biomedical devices such as catheters, pacemakers and
orthopaedic implants. These biofilm-forming bacteria cause burn wound
infections and are developing resistance to conventional antibiotics.

To devise a way to annihilate biofilm-forming
bacteria, the researchers synthesized four maleic-anhydride-based polymers. They
then probed their efficiencies to inhibit the growth of A. baumannii.

The scientists found that the
polymers killed the biofilm-forming bacteria more efficiently than conventional
antibiotics such as erythromycin,
tobramycin and colistin. In mice, the polymers also alleviated burn wound infections
caused by A. baumannii without the
development of bacterial resistance.

The polymers killed bacteria by disrupting
their membrane potential. This suggests that they could be used to thwart
hospital-borne burn wound infections, the researchers say.